, 1887-02-03
Resolutions Looking to Improve
Coast Defences.
A Slow Process of Constructing
u Navy.
Committee Asking Advice on the
Retaliation Bill.
HOUSE.

HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31.-Lawler, of
Illinois, offered the following preamble
and resolution:
Whereas, The belligerent tone OF the
Canadian press and the announce
meut that Great britain viii shortly
despatch fleet Of war ships 70 cruise
in TIE vicinity OF our northwestern
coast line, indicate hostility towards
US growing out Of our position on the
tic'Neries question and =.
Whereas, Admiral Porter has di.
rected attertion that twenty-seven OF
our Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific harbors
are absolutely defenselsss, eleven OF
them, to-wit: New York, San Fran
cisco, Boston, Lake Pert, Hampton
Roads, New Orleans, Philadelphia,
Washington, Baltimore, Portland, Me-,
and Rhode Islands ports and Maria
xansa bay, are in urgent need OF de-
tense; and
Whereas, 1t is alleged that Great
Britain and Canada are in possession
of charts and exemplifications OF all
our harbor and coast defeuses, there
fore,
Resolved--That the president be,
and is hereby requested as commander
in-chief of the army and navy to in
form the house of representatives at
an early day, what steps if any are
necessary in his judgment TO provide
for this emergency. The resolution
WAS referred.
Mr.. Boutelle, of Maine, introduced
a resolution directing the committee
r.. ,r, tn rannrt hack fOrth-
with the senate retaliation bill.
Mr.. Lowering, of Massachusetts,, pre-
scented the resolution of the Massachu-
sets legislature in favor OF the retalia-
tion bill.
Mr.. McRae, of Arkansas, presented
a bill prohibiting members OF congress
from, acting as attorneys or employees
for railroad companies holding chart
ors, or having grants OF lands, or pc
cuniary aid from the United States
Mr.. McRca asked for its immediate
consideration, but Mr.. Parker, OF New
York objected.
The house then went into commit
tee Of the whole on the agricultural
appropriation bill. After slight
amendment the bill was reported te
the house and passed. The house
then went into committee OF the whoie
Mr.. Springer, of Illinois, in the chair
ON the bill to consolidate certain bu-
reaus OF the navy department.
Herbert, of Alabama, explained that
the chief object Of the bill was to con-
solidate under one head all the bu.
reaus concerned in the building and
equipment Of ships. AS an instance oi
the abuses which existed under the
present system, he stated that the
construction of the New York, a
wooden vessel, was begun in 1854 and
the last stroke ssof work done on her
was in 1868. For thirteen years she
lay upon the docks in Brooklyn and
then in 1881 the bureau OF steam engi-
neering built boilers for her which re-
main to-day in the Washington yard.
Under the pending bill one man would
be responsible for the construction and
engineering and he would not start
thirteen years after the work had
been stopped ON a vessel to make boil
-ers for her. II he did he would de-
serve to be court martialed- AT TINS
point the committee rose and the
house adjourned.
SENATE.
Hoar presented resolution from
the Massachusetts, legislature con-
cerning the treatment OF American
fishing vessels in Canadian waters, de-
claring itself in favor Of retaliation to
the extent OF denying to Canadian
vessels in American ports the right to
purchase supplies and the eventual ex-
clusion of all Canadian products by
land and sea, until the offensive legis-
lation and action of the Can adian
authorities are discontinued. Referred.
A. number of bills from committees
were reported and placed on the cal
endar.
The senate then proceeded to the
consideration of the Sundry civil ap-
preparation bills.
At2 o'clock the railroad attorney
bill was laid before the senate rs un-
finished business, but it was soon in
formally laid aside and Sundry civil
bill proceeded with. After discussion,
reading of the bill was resumed. In
the course of discussion on point
of order, Mr.. Edmunds expressed
parenthetically wish that the senate
would provide for an hundred new
cruisers. After disposing of fifty-six
pages of the bill, out of one hundred
and four, the senate adjourned.
TIA. Nev Work strike.